RideLondon 2016
Comments
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I blame wiggle
oh.0 -
That seems like two different points.OK. You can do Ironman length triathlons and extensive stunt climbs in the peak district and they feel exactly like the RL100 and not completely different at all.
Paul
You almost make that sound like a bad thing.
The London Marathon, organised by the same people, in the minds of many non runners is the only marathon. They express surprises that there are other marathons and that they are the same distance. RL100 seems to be heading this way, the only 100 mile ride anywhere.
For a beginner the RL100 is the easiest 100 mile ride imaginable*. No traffic, no junctions, loads of food stops, no significant climbs. Easy. IMO it's a real shame if participants do not go on to other more challenging rides. For a regular cyclist, (I'll define them as riders who doesn't have to 'train' specifically for a 100 mile ride), the RL100 is the fastest 100 mile ride (outside a TT environment etc etc etc) easily available. Closed roads, some good road surfaces, fast groups, it's great fun. I think it's possible to ameliorate the risk with sensible riding (and giving the triathletes a wide berth), and I would/will do it again.
Paul
*Excluding theoretical 30 laps of Silverstone type things...0 -
As Ugo says, predictable. I suspect others thought as I did that some of those roads would be deadly with traffic. Nth Wales has some great riding and I don't think the Erape Cymru used the best if them by any means. I guess I'll just have to do the Ruthin MTB (please don't shun me) event instead as it's usually run the same weekendThe Etape Cymru has already been cancelled this year:
'We are sorry to announce that we have made the decision to cancel the Wiggle Etape Cymru. It is a significant investment for Human Race to host a quality event on this scale, and at this point we don’t currently have the minimum level of entries we require to continue our ambitious plans. We are reluctant to reduce the standards of participant experience in any way, therefore, after discussions with the partners involved in creating the event, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the event.'0 -
BuckMulligan wrote:Yes, there's a section asking if you'd like to donate your entry fee to charity if you don't get a spot. They've kindly pre-ticked this box for you, so if you're not attentive you may assume that you have to enter your credit card details in case you get a spot, but this is not the case. If you choose not to donate your fee, they will not ask for any payment details at all.
I'm with Ugo on this one, it's a complete and utter scam. It's something that's been carried over from the London Marathon ballot system, what with them being run by the same parent company/organising committee/whatever. I think the offer of an extra 1000 spaces for those that "donate" is a bit deceptive as well, because (certainly for the London Marathon) they deliberately refuse to publish the data for the ballot (i.e. number of spots vs entrants, number of fee donors etc) so you have no idea how significant those extra 1000 spaces are. If there are only a few thousand people donating their entry fee then it might be worthwhile but if it's >10000 then it's basically pointless. Effectively, they're asking you to enter a lottery but refusing to tell you what the odds are, and all the time hiding behind the guise of a charity to avoid criticism.
It's incredibly deceptive in my opinion and I know several people that have (often unintentionally) got the consolation Ride London jerseys and London Marathon fleeces that have never even done the events themselves because they have never got a spot in the ballot. I think it's a disgraceful business practice, but obviously they feel that they should be leveraging the huge number of people entering the ballot system to maximum effect and the (frankly minimal) bad publicity that they get is worth it.
Holy thread-resurrection!
I've just had an email telling me that I haven't been succesful, and thanking me for donating my entry money! I wasn't aware that i had done that!
I'm planning on taking up a charity place as i have a couple of mates riding and want to do it with them. So i'm a bit miffed, and wondering if i should email them asking them not to take my money, as i'll be raising at least £500 for charity through my own efforts (as well as paying to take up a charity place!).
Am i being unreasonable?! :?0 -
This has happened to me too. As its the 4th time i've entered, and i never made this mistake before, i'm really hoping it's some error on their part.0
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Just received another email saying it is a mistake0
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Ahh. Yup. Me too! Phew.0
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I too recieved an email thanking me for my donation even though I wasn't successful.
Also really miffed as I'm now riding for a charity, anyone had any luck in challenging this as I'm sure I didn't tick that box?0 -
Does anybody know how the 'ballot' works? Ive entered 4 times and not got in. I rode the first two through my club. Does somebody actually choose the riders? If so, on what basis? Or is it a lucky dip?Pegoretti
Colnago
Cervelo
Campagnolo0 -
I was about to say, I got these e-mails. not clever. as for the sportive some clubs get places, and that's where quite a few folk that do the sportive get in.
I've done this 2 years on the bounce, but after seeing riders crash into each other in a straight line and people trying to take selfies at 26mph, I think if I don't get in, i'll give it a miss and just ride the course and give people a tow round the fairly fast bits. or go out west or to kent and do some decent roads.0 -
Don't come to Kent if you're looking for decent roads. :?philbar72 wrote:I think if I don't get in, i'll give it a miss and just ride the course and give people a tow round the fairly fast bits. or go out west or to kent and do some decent roads.
To address the earlier post about the ballot, my own opinion (based on nothing more than cold hard logic, which may not apply) is that you will have a better chance of a place if you estimate a fast time, sub 5 hours particularly.0 -
philbar72 wrote:I was about to say, I got these e-mails. not clever. as for the sportive some clubs get places, and that's where quite a few folk that do the sportive get in.
I've done this 2 years on the bounce, but after seeing riders crash into each other in a straight line and people trying to take selfies at 26mph, I think if I don't get in, i'll give it a miss and just ride the course and give people a tow round the fairly fast bits. or go out west or to kent and do some decent roads.
I was considering doing this, my mate is riding and ive ridden the last two years for charity, didnt get in the ballot but my mate did, and tbh i dont want to ask the same people to donate money for me to ride. so figured i could go and ride with my mate but ditch the food stops!0 -
Ive put 5 hours on the last 2 based on the time I did in the first one. I think the opposite; if you're female and put 7 hours you're more likely to get in.ManOfKent wrote:
Don't come to Kent if you're looking for decent roads. :?philbar72 wrote:I think if I don't get in, i'll give it a miss and just ride the course and give people a tow round the fairly fast bits. or go out west or to kent and do some decent roads.
To address the earlier post about the ballot, my own opinion (based on nothing more than cold hard logic, which may not apply) is that you will have a better chance of a place if you estimate a fast time, sub 5 hours particularly.Pegoretti
Colnago
Cervelo
Campagnolo0
